Society Matters | Volume 31 No. 1 | Autumn 2021

5 Volume 31 No. 1 | Autumn 2021 Fr Deva says that other challenges concerning healthcare and education will also be focus areas for the SVD to follow up with once the housing is in place. “This is only the first step. But for now, there is no doubt the SVDs have brought a lot of cheer to people as they have a decent shelter to live in,” he says. Fr Tuyen says the people are truly grateful, joking that they thank both the pandemic and the SVD for providing them with a place to live. The Divine Word Missionaries have been on the ground in Myanmar for almost two years now, following an invitation from Cardinal Charles Bo SDB to establish a Bible ministry in his Archdiocese of Yangon. Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in Asia, with a population of 50 million people, so there are many challenges for the people. The missionaries assigned to Myanmar for the SVD are Fr Tuyen Nguyen, Fr Deva Savariyappan and Fr Mariusz Kubista. The Divine Word Missionaries in Myanmar • The SVD have been in Myanmar for about two years. • The Myanmar mission is part of the AUS Province, along with Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. • The Divine Word Missionaries were invited to Myanmar by Cardinal Charles Bo SDB to establish a Bible ministry in the Archdiocese of Yangon. • Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in Asia, with a population of 50 million people. • There are currently three SVD missionaries in Myanmar. • Bible ministry is the team’s main focus and long- term goal. • The missionaries are living among the people, learning the language, visiting the people and accompanying them with Sunday Mass. • One of the missionaries also works as a guidance counsellor and spiritual director at St Joseph’s Catholic Seminary in Yangon City, which is a national institute of Theology for seminarians from all over Myanmar. • Bible sharing groups and Bible studies are an important SVD ministry in Myanmar. • The SVD is also providing basic housing for people in need.